
Svend Erik Mathiassen
Senior Professor in Work-related musculoskeletal disorder research
About the researcher
- Cand. scient. (Danish), Sports Science and Biology
- Associate Professor, Occupational and Environmental Medicine; Lund University
- Doctor of Medicine in Occupational Physiology
Current research
- Strategies for collecting data on physical workload
- Analysis of cost and efficiency of data collection
- Quantification and magnitude of variation in physical workload across occupations
- Motor variability in work-relevant tasks - magnitude and physiological effect
- Flexible work and employment arrangements
Education
2003 Graphic techniques in media; Teknik i Media, Malmö (3 weeks)
2003 Popular Science in writing; Ordfront, Stockholm (1 week)
1995 Science journalism; Upsala Nya Tidning, Uppsala (1 month)
1993 PhD / Dr. med. sc., Work Physiology; Karolinska Institute / National Institute of Occupational Health, Stockholm
Thesis title: Variation in shoulder-neck activity — physiological, psychophysical and methodological studies of isometric exercise and light assembly work
1986 M.Sc. / Cand.scient., Work Physiology; August Krogh Institute, Copenhagen University
1981 B.Sc., Biology; Odense University
1979 Advanced course in Statistics; Dept. of Mathematics, Odense University
1974 B.Sc., Physical Education; Odense University
Positions
2008–2011 Head secretary; Scientific advisory committee on work environment issues, Ministry of Employment, Stockholm
2006– Professor in Work-related musculoskeletal disorder research; Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Gävle
2004–2006 Guest Professor; Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Gävle
2004– Adjunct Professor; School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia
2001–2004 Professor in Production Ergonomics; Faculty of Technology and Society, Malmö University
2003 Invited visiting researcher; Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, MA, USA
1999–2001 Senior researcher, Production Ergonomics programme; Faculty of Technology and Society, Malmö University
1998– Appointed associate Professsor ("docent"); Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University
1993–1999 Senior Researcher; Dept. of Work and Health, National Institute for Working Life, Stockholm
1989–1993 Junior Researcher; Dept. of Work and Health, National Institute for Working Life, Stockholm
1987–1989 PhD student; Dept. of Applied Work Physiology, National Institute of Occupational Health / Karolinska Institute, Stockholm
1982–1987 Teacher in Physiology and Biomechanics; School of Physiotherapy, Odense University, Denmark
1974–1984 Teacher in Biomechanics and Experimental Work Physiology; Dept. of Sports Sciences, Odense University, Denmark
Grants 2004-2020
- 2019 Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare. Project “Retail 4.0? Work environment and inequality in e-retail” Grant: SEK 3.700.000.- (SvEM Co-applicant)
- 2019 Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare. Project “Flexible work – opportunity and challenge” Grant: SEK 17.000.000.- (SvEM Co-applicant)
- 2018 AFA insurance, Stockholm. Project “The influence of psychosocial factors on physical load, pain and sickness absence in elderly care.” Grant: SEK 2.902.000.- (SvEM Co-applicant)
- 2017 Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare. Project “Time patterns of physical load, performance and musculoskeletal disorders. A longitudinal study of male and female string players.” Grant: SEK 3.030.000.- (SvEM Co-applicant)
- 2016 Swedish Work Environment Authority. Project: “Equal health at work? Gender, work organisation and physical load in retail stores.”. Grant: SEK 3.200.000.-
- 2014 Swedish Work Environment Authority. Project: ”Physical variation and disorders in working life”. Grant: SEK 375.000.-
- 2013 AFA insurance, Stockholm. Project: ”Alternating physical and cognitive loads – effects on performance, fatigue and recovery”. Grant: SEK 3.569.000.-
- 2012 Swedish Work Environment Authority. Project: ”Physical work, gender, and health in working life. State of knowledge report”. Grant: SEK 600.000.-
- 2011 Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare / EU Marie Curie. Project ”Motor variability in occupational work: Determinants & physiological effects” (Post-doc grant, SvEM researcher in charge). Grant: SEK 3.050.000.- (SvEM scientifically responsible)
- 2010 AFA insurance, Stockholm. Project: ”Healthy flight loaders”. Grant: SEK 2.800.000.- (SvEM co-applicant)
- 2009 FAS, Stockholm. Centre of excellence "The body at work — from problem to potential" (Dnr 2009-1761). Grant: SEK 50.500.000.-
- 2006 National Institute for Working Life, Stockholm. Project: editing a new textbook in working life physiology. Grant SEK 450.000.-
- 2006 Prevent, Stockholm. Project: writing up a course book in basic industrial ergonomics. Grant: SEK 150.000.-
- 2005 Sparbanksstiftelsen Nya, Gävle. Project: “Ergopriset — profitable production through a good work environment". Grant: SEK 500.000.-
- 2005 FAS, Stockholm. Project "Cost-efficient collection and analysis of data on physical loads in working life — guidelines for practitioners" (Dnr 2005-0183). Grant: SEK 1.900.000.-
- 2004 FAS, Stockholm. Project "Cost-efficient collection and analysis of data on physical loads in working life — strategies for practitioners" (Dnr 2004-0600). Grant: SEK 420.000.-
Scientific commitments
Expert assignments
- 2019– Member of expert committe reviewing associations between work enviroment factors and disorders in the neck, shoulders and arms, Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services
- 2018– Member of the scientific expert committee evaluating applications for research funding, AFA Insurance
- 2016–2019 Coordinator for Mid-Sweden in the VINNOVA-funded platform “Sustainable work as a resource for health, innovation and growth”
- 2014 Member of international expert committee evaluating the Danish National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen
- 2011–2014 Member of expert committe reviewing associations between work enviroment factors and low back disorders, The Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment
- 2010–2013 Expert member, prioritization committee Work, environment and Health, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (then FAS, now Forte)
- 2011 Chairman of the group developing the (successful) application of the University of Gävle to the Swedish Higher Education Authority for PhD examination rights in “Health-promoting working life”
- 2010– Numerous assignments in reference groups and expert committees, e.g. for the Swedish Work Environment Authority; the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare
Member of scientific evaluation committee / PhD thesis opponent:
- Umeå University
- Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg
- Jönköping University
- University of Southern Denmark, Odense
- Norwegian University of Technology, Trondheim
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- Erasmus University Rotterdam
- University at Buffalo
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Bogota
Journal commitments
Assistant editor: Annals of Work Exposures and Health
Editorial board: Ergonomics, Applied Ergonomics
Appointed reviewer for the journals
American Journal of Industrial Medicine; Applied Ergonomics; Ergonomics; European Journal of Applied Physiology; IMA Journal of Management Mathematics; International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics; Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology; Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health; Occupational and Environmental Medicine; Psychology & Health; Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health; Work and Stress
Invited keynotes at international conferences
8th International Conference on Prevention of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders, Busan, Korea 2013
Nordic Ergonomics Society Annual Congress, Stockholm 2012
Swedish Forum for Working Life Research, Luleå 2011
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 51st Annual Meeting, 2007, Baltimore.
IEA2006 conference "Diversity in Ergonomics", Maastricht 2006.
X2004 conference "Exposure assessment in a changing environment", Utrecht 2004.
Editorial commitments
Special Issue of J Electromyogr Kinesiol on Normalization of Trapezius EMG, 1995
Special issue of Int J Environ Res Public Health , titled "Physical Activity and Occupational Health in a 24/7 Perspective", 2020
International standardization
Appointed expert in SIS/TK120 “Ergonomics", and thus in ISO/TC159/SC3 “Anthropometry/Biomechanics" and CEN/TC122/WG4 “Biomechanics".
Organisation of scientific courses, workshops, etc
Co-organizer of the Nordic symposium “EMG amplitude as an indicator of upper trapezius load- how do we calibrate?"; National Institute of Occupational Health, Stockholm, February 1994
Co-organizer of COPE-workshop "Methods for collecting and analysing data on mechanical exposure in developing production systems"; National Institute for Working Life, Stockholm, March 1999
Organizer of workshop "Exposure assessment in intervention studies - design of efficient measurement strategies" vid konferensen "X2001 — Exposure assessment in epidemiology and practice", Göteborg 2001 (co-operation with AJ van der Beek, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
Co-organizer of two sessions "More variation in the job: will it improve musculoskeletal health?" at the XVth Triennial Congress of the International Ergonomics Association in Seoul, August 2003 (co-operation with Paul Kuijer, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Mardy Frazer, University of Waterloo, Canada)
Co-organizer of session “Exposure assessment strategies" at the 17th Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, Beijing, August 2009 (co-operation with Jens Wahlström, Dept Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umeå University).
Member of the scientific board for several conferences in musculoskeletal disorders and occupational exposure assessment.
PhD thesis opponent:
2006 Dept Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umeå University (licentiate)
2003 Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg
1995 Norwegian University of Technology, Trondheim
Member of scientific evaluation committee:
2001-2008 Umeå University, Stockholm University, Gothenburg University, Chalmers Technical University, Lund University, Copenhagen University, University at Buffalo
Member of editorial board
Ergonomics, Applied Ergonomics
Appointed reviewer for the journals:
American Journal of Industrial Medicine; Applied Ergonomics; Ergonomics; European Journal of Applied Physiology; International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics; Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology; Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health; Occupational and Environmental Medicine; Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health; Work and Stress
Invited keynotes
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 51st Annual Meeting, 2007, Baltimore.
IEA2006 conference "Diversity in Ergonomics", Maastricht 2006.
X2004 conference "Exposure assessment in a changing environment", Utrecht 2004.
Editorial commitment
Principal or co-editor of:
“EMG amplitude as an indicator of upper trapezius load - how do we calibrate?"; proceedings of a symposium at the National Institute of Occupational Health, Stockholm 1994
Special Issue of J Electromyogr Kinesiol on Normalization of Trapezius EMG, 1995
“Methods for collecting and analysing data on mechanical exposure in developing production systems", proceedings and discussion of an invited Nordic workshop at the National Institute for Working Life, Stockholm 1999
International standardization
Appointed expert in SIS/TK120 “Ergonomics", and thus in ISO/TC159/SC3 “Anthropometry/Biomechanics" and CEN/TC122/WG4 “Biomechanics".
Organisation of scientific courses, workshops, etc.
- Co-organizer of the Nordic symposium “EMG amplitude as an indicator of upper trapezius load- how do we calibrate?"; National Institute of Occupational Health, Stockholm, February 1994
- Co-organizer of COPE-workshop "Methods for collecting and analysing data on mechanical exposure in developing production systems"; National Institute for Working Life, Stockholm, March 1999
- Organizer of workshop "Exposure assessment in intervention studies - design of efficient measurement strategies" vid konferensen "X2001 — Exposure assessment in epidemiology and practice", Göteborg 2001 (co-operation with AJ van der Beek, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
- Co-organizer of two sessions "More variation in the job: will it improve musculoskeletal health?" at the XVth Triennial Congress of the International Ergonomics Association in Seoul, August 2003 (co-operation with Paul Kuijer, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Mardy Frazer, University of Waterloo, Canada)
- Co-organizer of session “Exposure assessment strategies" at the 17th Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, Beijing, August 2009 (co-operation with Jens Wahlström, Dept Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umeå University).
Member of the scientific board for several conferences in musculoskeletal disorders and occupational exposure assessment.
Publications in total
Peer-reviewed papers
before 1988 | 1988-1991 | 1992-1995 | 1996-1999 | 2000-2003 | 2004 - in press | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First author | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | |
Second author | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 19 | |
Third author | 4 | 3 | 10 |
Non-peer-reviewed papers
before 1988 | 1988-1991 | 1992-1995 | 1996-1999 | 2000-2003 | 2004 - in press | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First author | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 10 | |
Second author | 3 | 14 | 12 | 22 | 27 | |
Popular science/education | 3 | 4 | 16 | 2 | 2 |
Supervision
Main supervisor
Susanna Mixter, PhD 2021
Jennie Jackson, PhD 2017
Eva Bergsten, PhD 2017
Mahmoud Rezagholi, PhD 2012
Per Liv, PhD 2012
Therese Möller, Licentiate 2001
Co-supervisor
Johanna Edvinsson, current PhD student
Sofie Bjärntoft, current PhD student
Monica Kaltenbrunner, PhD 2020
Malin Håkansson PhD 2019
Peter Palm, PhD 2017
Marina Ciccarelli, PhD 2009
Inger Arvidsson, PhD 2008
Gerd Flodgren, PhD 2007
Catarina Nordander, PhD 2004
Patric Neumann, PhD 2005
Susanne Svendsen, PhD 2003
Nils Petersson, Licentiate 1997
Monica Attebrant, Licentiate 1995
Leadership and administrative experience
During the years 1993–2001, co-responsible for building up the Production Ergonomics research group at the National Institute for Working Life (head: professor Jörgen Winkel).
Since 2004 research director at the Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University in Gävle. This includes responsibility for:
- quality development, planning, surveillance and evaluation of the R&D of the Centre, including budget proposals and allocation
- initiating activities for increased external funding of the R&D
- initiating, developing and sustaining national and international R&D co-operations
- national and international visibility of the Centre
- promoting, developing, implementing and surveilling commissioned R&D
Since 2009 chief coordinator for the national R&D centre “The Body at Work — from problem to potential", funded by the Swedish Research Council for Working Life and Social Research (FAS).
Research area
Variation at work – measurement methods, physiological effects, interventions in working life
I received my PhD in 1993 from Karolinska Institutet/Arbetslivsinstitutet with a thesis on the physiological effects of different ways of varying physical workload, especially breaks. Since then, I have worked as a researcher at the Working Life Institute, Malmö University and since 2004 I have been employed at CBF, University of Gävle. Until 2020, I was research director of CBF. I was coordinator of the Forte Center "The body at work - from problem to potential" 2009-2021, and have been a member of expert groups at Forte and AFA insurance. 2008-2011 I was principal secretary of the Government's Work Environment Policy Knowledge Council, and currently I am on the board of Forte.
Current research interest
Physical variation is still a main interest: how to express variation in numbers, what are the physiological and psychological effects of different types and sizes of variation, and how to create jobs with appropriate variation that are also profitable for companies? A further important research question, related to variability in workload, is how to design a statistically and resource-efficient strategy for measuring workload.
Keywords: occupational physiology, ergonomics, physical load, fatigue, variability, measurement strategies
Ongoing framework projects
Equal occupational health? Gender, work organization and physical strain in the retail sector
Responsible: Svend Erik Mathiassen
Strategies for collecting data on physical workload
Responsible: Svend Erik Mathiassen
Analysis of cost and efficiency of data collection
Responsible: Svend Erik Mathiassen
Quantification and magnitude of variation in physical workload across occupations
Responsible: Svend Erik Mathiassen
Motor variability in work-related tasks - magnitude and physiological effect
Responsible: Svend Erik Mathiassen
Flexible work and employment arrangements
Responsible: Gunnar Bergström
Collaboration in research projects
Collaboration in research projects
Observer variability in different principles for observing work postures
Susanne Wulff Svendsen External link, opens in new window., Danish Ramazzini Center, Department of Occupational Medicine, Herning Hospital
Jens Wahlström External link, opens in new window., Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umeå University Hospital
From CBF: Per Liv, Marina Heiden
The importance of the normalization procedure in EMG recordings of lumbar strain
From CBF: Jennie Jackson
Comparison of the statistical performance of observations and direct measurements of working postures in hairdressers
Susanne Wulff Svendsen External link, opens in new window., Danish Ramazzini Center, Department of Occupational Medicine, Herning Hospital
Jens Wahlström External link, opens in new window., Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umeå University Hospital
From CBF: Per Liv, Marina Heiden
PATH method performance in different collection procedures
Laura Punnett, Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell
From CBF: Jennie Jackson, Per Liv
Bias and precision of percentiles of work postures in short-term sampling
Mikael Forsman, Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet
Jens Wahlström External link, opens in new window., Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umeå University Hospital
Measurement strategies for estimation of variance components
Susanne Wulff Svendsen External link, opens in new window., Danish Ramazzini Center, Department of Occupational Medicine, Herning Hospital
From CBF: Per Liv, Marina Heiden
Cost and efficiency of different procedures for observing work postures from video
Apostolos Bantekas, Faculty of Education and Economics, University of Gävle
From CBF: Mahmoud Rezagholi, Per Liv
Comparison of cost and efficiency of observation and technical measurements of work postures
Apostolos Bantekas, Faculty of Education and Economics, University of Gävle
From CBF: Mahmoud Rezagholi, Per Liv
Development of econometric models for cost-effectiveness analysis
Apostolos Bantekas, Faculty of Education and Economics, University of Gävle
From CBF: Mahmoud Rezagholi, Per Liv
Modeling of heavy manual handling in scaffolding work based on invoice data on scaffold weight and size
Allard van der Beek, VU University Medical Center, EMGO, Amsterdam
Alex Burdorf, Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam
Cost and effectiveness of recording back strain with self-report, observation and direct measurements
From CBF: Catherine Trask
Cost and effectiveness of assessing work postures of air loaders by self-reporting, observation, direct measurements and modeling
Erik Alphonse External link, opens in new window., Transport Sector Occupational and Work Environment Committee (TYA)
Jens Wahlström External link, opens in new window., Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umeå University Hospital
Linda Rose, KTH School of Technology and Health
From CBF: Eva Bergsten, Catherine Trask, Marina Heiden, Jennie Jackson
EMG-based measures of patterns of work and rest - effects of data processing methodology
Bo Veiersted External link, opens in new window., National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo
Mikael Forsman, Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet
Time patterns of activity and inactivity in office workers
Allan Toomingas, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet
Leon Straker, Curtin University of Technology, Perth
Variation expressed by EVA - state-of-the-art review
Pete Johnson, Department of Environmental & Occupational Health, University of Washington, Seattle
Leon Straker, School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth
Comparison of different variables that can express (aspects of) variation through analysis of simulated exposure profiles
Pascal Madeleine, Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Aalborg University
Fatigue development, blood flow and EMG at different controlled time patterns of work
Richard Wells, Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo
The work/pause relationship in the movement pattern of fatigue development in stereotypical repetitive work
Tim Bosch, TNO, The Netherlands
Jaap van Diëen, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam
From the CBF: Eugene Lyskov, David Hallman
Quantification of motor variability in a model work; probably a simple, repetitive arm work with low biomechanical load
From CBF: Divya Srinivasan, Mats Djupsjöbacka, Dmitry Domkin
Within- and between-individual variance of different measures of motor variability in experimental and field tasks
Jonas Sandlund, External link, opens in new window. Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Umeå University
From CBF: Mats Djupsjöbacka, Divya Srinivasan
The effect on motor variability and physiological fatigue of combinations of physical and mental load in a simple manual labor task
From CBF: Divya Srinivasan, Mats Djupsjöbacka, Dmitry Domkin
Sidan uppdaterades 2025-01-23